Jobs, jobs, jobs

Meathlass

Coming to the end of another archaeology job but doesn't seem to be the supply that was once there. Getting pretty sick of bouncing from job to job, company to company, shared house to ... you get the idea. I love the research/post-ex end of things and that's what I'm doing at the moment but impossible to find something permanent. I don't want to become a director. I could specialise in something (go back to college, do another masters etc) but what - archaeobotany, pottery, bones etc - all interest me equally but I have no professional expertise in any of them.

I'm 29 and want something a bit more permanent. For the last 6 months I've constantly being given 3 weeks notice only for it to be extended at the 11th hour so I'm lucky in that regard. Love the company and the people I work with but everyone is being laid off at the moment all across the sector. I keep my eye on localgovtjobs.ie and bajr but they're mostly the usual digger jobs. I suppose the writing is on the wall, digging jobs are becoming less and less frequent. I don't want to work in any other profession but am quite happy to work in different parts of archaeology - academic, govt and private. All my friends, family and bf are saying get out, there's no future in it (there's a joke in there somewhere ...!) but I'm an archaeologist and can't imagine doing anything else. So my question in a round about way is, has anyone at my age decided to start specialising in something from scratch? How did you get on? From my current job I know there are plenty of deficits in the market for specialists - slag, glass, worked bone, tiles etc. It just seems a very closed tightknitted community from here.

Humanist

Plenty of jobs if you look in the right place. Send me your e-mail address and I can point you in the right direction?

Sealrock

Meathlass

While there has been a slow down in site work, there is still a huge amount of catch up and back log post-ex to do, not only for specialists but also in terms of writing excavation reports. If you can demonstrate to your company that you can help them with their outstanding reports,as most have;) this would be another option for you rather than going down the specialist route, which would require another masters, and more particularly an interest you wish to develop. One other option, some UK universities offer one/two week course in different disciplines as part of the IFA:CPD programme, check http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/icontent/index.php?page=111

These are a selection I saw on IFA website, the section on the IAI website hasn't been updated in a while

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR ARCHAEOLOGISTS & HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS

www.conted.ox.ac.uk
Interpreting Architectural Drawings and Records
Aerial Photography: Archaeological Interpretation and Mapping
Post-Excavation Assessment
Taking Stock: The Rapid Assessment of Historic Church Buildings – Methods and Approaches
An Introduction to Architecture for Archaeologists

And an interesting one being run in July http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/icontent/inPages/docs/training/EAF_single%20page_LR.pdf
The Environment: Archaeological
and Forensic Perspectives Annual Workshop


BAJR has a link although it was down tonight when i had a look


Best of luck

Sealrock

Meathlass

Thanks Sealrock, Yeah I've looked at all the various websites (haven't got to the ringing around stage yet). I know I could properly pick up work as supervisor somewhere in the country or if worse comes to worse the North, but I'm settled where I am - partner, house etc. The company I work for has possibly hundreds of reports left to write up so that is something I have been thinking about and it's something I'd like to do but they are loath to retain anything other than their core staff at the moment and because I'm only here a year I don't think I qualify for redundancy yet so it's not worth their while keeping me on. Haven't got official notice yet though. My plan since December has been to keep coming in until someone notices me and tells me to go home!

My problem is not so much in the short term. I know I could get work if I'm willing to move. I'm thinking way down the line - in 30 years time will I still be moving from one job to another doing post-ex and report writing? I suppose I'm looking to set myself up with something more permanent so I can contemplate settling down, getting a mortagne etc - all that fun adult stuff!

Sealrock

Meathlass,

I take your point, however, most of the companies I know, are currently in the process of writing up their reports (primarily because of the general slowdown), and I would see the report backlog as something of a short to medium term issue. The rate of report delivery has certainly improved in the past five years. I would see the possiblity of working on backlog, a means to make yourself more useful to your company and give yourself a bit of an advantage over others, rather than being an end in itself.

A possible career target is the whole area of local authority/heritage council post, e.g. Heritage Officers or Monuments Advisors. Good preparation for these posts is giving talks, schools projects, exhibitions, writing articles etc. And if you wanted to really give yourself an edge, go for one of the following Diploma/Degree Courses

EIS management,
Planning,
Heritage Management
Project Management

The big problem about this route is that its hardwork, and very time consuming and can limit your working options e.g. if you are doing one of these courses you generally have to give up Friday night/Saturday morning, not to mention the impact on your family and social life.

Best wishes

Sealrock

Meathlass

Sealrock wrote: »

Meathlass,

I take your point, however, most of the companies I know, are currently in the process of writing up their reports (primarily because of the general slowdown), and I would see the report backlog as something of a short to medium term issue. The rate of report delivery has certainly improved in the past five years. I would see the possiblity of working on backlog, a means to make yourself more useful to your company and give yourself a bit of an advantage over others, rather than being an end in itself.

A possible career target is the whole area of local authority/heritage council post, e.g. Heritage Officers or Monuments Advisors. Good preparation for these posts is giving talks, schools projects, exhibitions, writing articles etc. And if you wanted to really give yourself an edge, go for one of the following Diploma/Degree Courses

EIS management,
Planning,
Heritage Management
Project Management

The big problem about this route is that its hardwork, and very time consuming and can limit your working options e.g. if you are doing one of these courses you generally have to give up Friday night/Saturday morning, not to mention the impact on your family and social life.

Best wishes

Sealrock

Thanks Sealrock. Yeah I know what you mean about the report writing. I suppose I'm lucky in a way - our office used to have 40 people in it and now we're down to 4 so I've managed to cling on by exactly what you said, making myself useful, coming in early, staying late, bringing work home. Ideally i'd like to work in a post-ex managerial role for a large company as I'm very detailed orientated. I've been keeping on eye on govt jobs but they are few and far between. Applied for one and on a panel but that's it. Not expecting to hear anything but was good interview experience.

I would be interested in doing one of the above courses but unfortunately financial circumstances wouldn't allow it this semester. Giving up weekends would be no hassle. I take your point about schools and museums. I think alot of local jobs, expecially in country area are about who you know. If you can show that you are involved in the local community and heritage aspects of it, they're more inclined to employ. I've been looking into publishing an article based on my thesis so will continue with that also.